Forced Induction or Car Upgrade?
 

I've done some reading around on FI on here, and understand you can't cheap out on a FI build if you want it fast and reliable. I bought my lightly used Z a couple months ago, and I basically want something with more "uumph". Don't get me wrong, the Z is fast, but I want something faster with more torque. I was considering buying a C6 vette when I purchased my Z, but they were a little more expensive for me. I half regret not saving up a little more and purchasing one.

So at this point I'm trying to decide if I should look into selling my Z and go with something like a 'vette, or if I should stick with the Z, save up for a forced induction build, and go that route? If I went with FI, I'd probably go with a supercharger since A.) they're cheaper, and B.) more reliable. I'd be looking to get around 375 - 450WHP. I do daily drive my Z, so that's why reliability is big for me as well. If I looked into selling my car, I'd probably still lose some money due to the trade in, refinancing, etc. I know it wouldn't be the same as FI, but I could always look into adding a CBE, intake, and a tune as well.

Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!

- Edit ----------------
If anyone would like to recommend a car besides a C6, please feel free to as well.

I've pondered these sorts of questions over time as well. But keep in mind that while (for example) a C6 vette is a quicker car, it's also just inherent less stable. If you're the world's best driver, you're going to make better lap times in that C6 all other things being equal. But the Z just has a little better feel. It gets loose a little more gradually, allowing you to explore the limits of the car without quite as much risk of sudden catastrophe.

In my current thoughts, I really like the Z as a platform, but it could use a little more power. Probably the sweet spot is to put a quality SC system in the Z and go for a very mild PSI and tuning on it, say shooting for the ballpark of 375-400 RWHP peak, with a relatively flat curve. I think this is more or less the direction Travis is shooting for with his track car's new SC setup as well. I think a Z + mild SC is going to be more fun and more forgiving than a beast of a C6.

Will a c6 be fast enough anyway? Cause a FI 370z is not stock c6 fast... It kills them. While a stock c6 is quicker than a stock 370z, I would be miserable with it... The vette would end up turbo. So you might be putting yourself in the same situation you are already in, unless you really think a base corvette is going to satisfy you.

I was going to test drive one first to make sure the torque was satisfying enough for my long term purposes. I figured an LS3 based C6 would be plenty of engine for me. But you have a point there..maybe a FI 370Z will be faster in the long run. I just need to factor in the cost of $8-$10k, install time, reliability factor, as well as losing my warranty on my car. A 'vette would cost less than that setup, would still carry the warranty, and hopefully would be very reliable.

For about $10k you'll have a reliable tt 370z if you did the install. if you don't mind the limited expansion of a supercharged car, go with that. It would be easier and greatly cheaper all around but expansion is limited. with that said, your wanting 400whp and on a dd car. the sc is what you need my friend, its much simpler and you can reach 500whp+ with gtm stage 2. Hell, with the canned tune your at about 400whp, south bend clutch and a happy medium tune (11.2-11.5 afr) retard the timing a bit....hfc and a nice cbe ppl would never know :tup:

I say FI

C6s are nice cars, but a TT 370z is most likely going to be much more satisfying than the Corvette. The 370's interior isn't the best in the industry, but it's light years above the Corvette. In addition, the visibility and usability of the Corvette is compromised versus the Z. Since you use your Z as a DD and you intend on doing the same for the Corvette, I think you might be overall dissatisfied.

I would never want to DD a non-factory FI car, but that's just me.

Yeah, thats kind of my concern -- FI with a daily driver. I do have a 2nd car my girlfriend drives most of the time, its a 2006 Accord, so worst comes to worst, that can always be a backup car for me.

The answer really comes down to your response there. FI Z's are uniquely impressive, and probably a really awesome car to have. I think the majority of the guys running FI'd Z's have had really good luck with them as well--I trust the car is generally reliable under boost.

On the other hand, any car modified like that poses a unique set of risks...there is always the risk of a horror story, whether due to the car, the kit, the tune, or just bad luck.

Figure out your tolerance for risk, and you should have a pretty good idea of your answer.

I agree with Charles as im stock motor DE with the Greddy twins and id kill a stock C6.I have run 12.15 @ 117.55 on stock tires and you would still beat that number with a s/c or a turbo kit.

Thats a hard one, I agree with kuriz32 about some of the cons in using the vette as a daily. The GTM SC will make your Z a lot faster and keep it reliable for the power levels you are looking for. Plus the Z is more unique and looks better!

Been DDing my Z for 10,000 miles since I put in the SC. only problem that I have had is a slight boost leak that I just addressed this weekend.

I love DDing my Z... Was looking at a ZO6 before I got the Z loved it performance wise but could not get over the crap interior, a two year old car should not have bits falling off of the interior already.

Is the c6 interior really that bad? I don't have a ton of seat time in them but I didn't notice them being all that terrible

I couldn't handle it
I care more about interior than exterior.
So far, non of USA produced automobile's interior has satisfied my appetite yet.

I spoke with Seb at SpecialtyZ about using an FI Z as a reliable daily driver and both agreed that as long as you install a quality forced induction kit, have it installed properly, have a great tune, and maintain it well, you will have no reliability issues.

He owns and dailys a GTM TT 370z running around 450rwhp and he has tracked it, taken it for passes down the drag strip numerous times and it has never missed a beat.

^^ yup done well it's fine. I'm at almost 9000 miles this year at over 500rwhp greddy with uprev combo and i am not very nice to my car at all

Okay, you guys convinced me. I'll hold onto my Z with the intent of installing a supercharger down the road. Now, time to save up for that, engagement ring, house down-payment, etc.

Anyone have $50k laying around they don't want? :yum:

Yea just give me your pay pal, but your paying the 3% fee ;)

glad your keeping the car, smart man

I'll take that.. LOL

plus a c6 interior will make u wanna punch yourself in the face every time u get in. also u will get confused in a parking lot when u go to try and unlock 4 identical c6's before u find yours.


plus... do we really need another vette on the road...

I was actually looking into the new Mustang 5.0

but changed my mind after seeing 7 guys I know buying the car!!! So I kept the Z

I find the C5 and C6 Vette interior to be pretty nice actually. People forget these are sports cars. not luxo cruisers. The interior in a C5 or C6 is better than the 350Z but not as good as the 370Z. I mean whats not to like about:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...e/DSC08844.jpg

I actually changed the shifter to a C6 shifter and it dresses it up a bit more too. Can't wait for a touch screen in there though. Maybe for Christmas?

This isn't bad though either:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...Z/IMG_2935.jpg

In some ways I like the Vette interior better.

If you change the head unit it upgrades the vette quite a bit as well. Same goes for the Z. I hate the looks of C6 steering wheels. Well, it's OK....

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y25...114_024_LG.jpg

Heck I actually don't like the looks of a C6 as much as a C5.

I did buy my Z S7 to use as my daily driver because I can drive it a long long time (over 200K mi) without issue and I know a Vette starts needing a lot of care about $150K. Plus a stick in traffic sucks on a daily basis. Plus the width and the large doors on a Vette make it a pain to get in and out of when your in tight parking. Doesn't help when SUV's park the compact spots either.

Yeah, that was the decision I've made.... You can't get any speed up on your daily drive anyways. So, I'd keep the Z stock and by a Vette and SC that. I don't dare to do that to my 50th Aniversary Car though. But, I'd like to get a 2004 Le Mans Corvette Z06 and throw a SC on that. Can you see I'm into C5's? It would kill stock ZR1 and GTR for pennies on the dollar. Beyond that.... Lingenfelter TT for the Vette. Can you say 750RWHP? That would lay waste to anything shy of $500K

You know that Mustang is not a bad car. I think it has the worst interior of them all though. Plus, I couldn't use it for a DD because I'd have to get a Mustang in stick because Ford hasn't perfected their auto yet.

Well, I don't know about this :tiphat: Vettes aren't that bad to own. Girls love them and they are fun ... plus some have a targa top.

That's what we like to hear. :bowrofl:

Sounds like a good idea. Enjoy your car. Get a couple of track days in (road course) then come back and tell us you need more power right away.
Going fast in a straight line isn't the main purpose of the Z. It was really meant to run the twisties. Can you say Togue. Same goes for Ferrari, Lambo, Etc....


Sorry if I'm hogging the thread guys but, you guys had a lot of good things I could relate to.

Thanks .... I'll stop now

C5 interior... its not really the overall shape/lines that make it feel cheaper. I think that if you squint your eyes so tight that its hard to see, that the C5 interior looks as great as any other.

Its more of the final feel. The knobs, buttons, handles... the feel of the materials to the touch. Something about the C5 interior makes it feel very play-skool to me. Like it was designed to be easy to wipe clean in the event of projectile vomiting. Every last detail is so rounded off on the edges that it feels like being in a padded room for crazy people.

its overall shape and look is pleasing... just lacks any refinement. I used to daily drive a 2003 S10 ZR2. The C5 interior is like a sporty shaped version of that. Its also rather crickety and creeky if I recall, but its been a while since Ive been in a C5.

Being a sports car for the purpose of being fast and fun to drive, the interior is not a killer for me. I have thought many times about building a twin turbo C5 Z06. I cant really explain why I never did, I really like a nice dark blue C5 Z06... I love them. Its just, for some reason, not me.

not for me either. just looks like too american.
gauges are big differences, and there are something I can't really explain,, more like a feeling

But would I take Z06 over 370z? hell ya, if someone wants to do a even trade
but I would rather get a GTR if I am paying for it.

I can't shake the red-neck feel of a corvette when I drive one. I just always think of the overweight guy with a wife-beater, gold chain, and comb-over driving one. With that being said, can't argue with their track prowess or speed.